Combined film cutter and cork remover



United States Patent 3,135,144 QQMBINEB FHJM CUTTER AND CGRK REMQVIER Robert W. Cameron, 42 Peninsula Road, Belvedere, Calif. Filed @ct. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 231,7fi7 1 Claim. (Ci. 8l--3.'l}

My invention relates generally to devices for assisting in the removal of corks from bottles and particularly relates to devices of the sort utilizing gas pressure for urging a cork out of the neck of a bottle.

Devices of this sort have come into rather widespread use, particularly for removing the corks from wine bottles. It is customary for the wine bottle to be made of glass and to receive a cork, the end of which is substantially flush with the top of the bottle. The end of the cork and the neck of the bottle are covered by means of a film or sheet, usually of metallic foil or the like.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a bottle cork remover which is not only elfective to assist in dislodging the cork itself from the neck of the bottle, but also assists in removing the overlying film.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle cork remover which is effective to remove the obstructing portion of the film and to remove the cork from the bottle.

Another object of the invention is in general to provide an improved cork remover.

Other objects together with the foregoing are attained in the embodiment of the invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

The figure is a cross section on an axial plane showing the upper portion of a typical bottle with its cork and covering film and also showing in cross section the bottle cork remover pursuant to the invention.

While the bottle cork remover can be embodied in a number of diiferent forms, it has successfully been incorporated in the particular form shown herein. This form is primarily for use with a bottle 6 of the customary sort. The bottle is generally symmetrical about an axis 7 and includes a neck 8 having a generally circular cylindrical interior surface 9. The bottle neck ends in an enlarged somewhat rounded head 11 generally merging with an approximately flat transverse surface 12 which curves into and merges with the interior surface 9.

The bottle is closed by a cork 13 of the customary sort extending partway into the neck of the bottle and being positioned to terminate in a transverse surface 14 substantially or approximately coextensive with the surface 12.

Overlying the end portion of the bottle and also overlying the end of the cork is a film 16 of appropriate material. Sometimes this is of a plastic nature; other times this is of a metallic nature; but in any event the film comprises a continuous layer tightly engaging the bottle and closely overlying the cork end.

Pursuant to this invention, I provide a remover including a generally circular cylindrical tubular holder 21. This is conveniently fabricated of metal and has a bore 22 extending inwardly from one end and a somewhat onlarged bore 23 extending inwardly from the other end. This provides a shoulder 24 against which a disk 26 is seated and is held by a plug 27. Extending from the plug 27 is a hollow needle 28 having a point 29 at the lower end thereof with escape orifices 31 near the point. The tubular holder 21 is designed to contain in part a gas pressure vessel 32 having a projection 33 including a valve (not shown) passing through an O-ring 34 to communicate with the hollow needle 28.

Particularly pursuant to the invention the holder 21 is extended beyond the plug 27 to provide a generally circular cylindrical rim 36 having an extreme edge 37 which conveniently is sharpened so as to be eifective to sever the film 16. If desired, the sharpened edge 37 can have a saw-like or sawtooth configuration. Preferably the rim 36 extends downwardly to such an extent that the rim edge can engage the film without interference by reason of contact of parts of the plug 27 with the bottle or cork.

In the use of this device the assembly as shown is poised above a bottle and the needle 28 is projected through the film 16 and distorts the film slightly into the cork. The needle is further inserted until such time as the edge 37 of the rim 35 comes into substantial contact with the film. If the film is fairly easily severed, it is merely necessary to push the sharpened edge 37 therethrough since the surface 12 of the bottle serves as a base against which the cutting action of the sharp edge can operate. This action severs a circular disk from the main portion of the film, the disk being symmetrical with regard to the axis '7 and being slightly larger than the cork 13. The gas container 32 is then actuated by depression in the customary way to open the valve and put the bottle interior under pressure. When the cork is forced outwardly of the bottle neck by the pressure, the cork lifts and advances the severed film disk. When the cork and disk have been removed in this fashion they are then Withdrawn from the needle 28 so that the device can be again used.

As an alternative mode of operation, when the edge 37 approaches the film, the casing 21 can be rotated, thus also rotating the rim 36 and providing a rotary cut to sever the film. If the edge is merely a knife edge, the action is in this fashion enhanced or if the edge is of the sawtooth nature, the severance is quickly effected. In either case, there is provided a bottle cork remover which not only dislodges the cork by means of gas pressure, but also has the capability of removing the otherwise interfering portion of the normally overlying film.

What is claimed is:

A bottle cork remover for use with a bottle having a neck to receive therein a cork of a predetermined diameter and having a film covering part of said neck and said cork, comprising a circular cylindrical tubular holder symmetrical about an axis and of more than said predetermined diameter, said holder having a first bore extending coaxially thereinto at the upper end and having a second bore extending coaxially thereinto at the lower end and meeting said first bore in a shoulder, said second bore being of more than said predetermined diameter; a plug in said holder abutting said shoulder; a straight, smooth, hollow needle seated in said plug and extending axially through said enlarged bore and beyond the lower end of said holder, the end of the needle extending beyond the lower end of the holder terminating in a point and having an orifice communicating with the hollow interior thereof; and cutting means formed on the lower end of said holder for cutting said film between said cutting means and said bottle neck when said needle is in said cork and said holder is guided toward said cork by said needle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 279,202 Strait June 12, 1883 279,203 Strait June 12, 1883 1,921,811 Eger Aug. 8, 1933 2,729,124 Farandatos Jan. 3, 1956 2,971,509 Cohen Feb, 14, 1961 3,085,454 Federighi Apr. 16, 1963. 

